Fine-Resolution Erosion Estimation on Large Scale based on Remote Sensing Data - An Approach for Tibet and Connected Regions

Earth systems operate over very diverse spatial and temporal scales. It requires application of a wide range of specialized technologies to measure and model their interrelation. This study is focused on the estimation and final calculation of erosion rates based on the interactions of climate factors with topography for the whole Tibetan plateau, by means of remote sensing data. The complex interrelationship among natural factors (precipitation, soil texture, topography, vegetation) and human activities (cultivation management), combined with the large area, unique geomorphological features and the lack of available long term data sets, as well as the hardly accessible terrain are an outstanding challenge for the investigation of this area. This ongoing project has a twofold outcome: to better understand the relationship between mountain and plateau building with climatic factors on the one hand and erosion on the other, and also to produce a precise erosion risk map for the region which is observed in this study.